...Fun, but not very believable.
Wag the Dog (1997)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:70
Fresh:59
Rotten:11
Average Rating:7.4/10
Consensus: Smart, well-acted, and uncomfortably prescient political satire from director Barry Levinson and and all-star cast.
Runtime: 2 hrs 25 mins
Genre: Comedies
Synopsis: When a Firefly Girl accuses the president of sexual misconduct in the Oval Office less than two weeks before the upcoming election, White House official Winifred Ames (Anne Heche) is told to bring... When a Firefly Girl accuses the president of sexual misconduct in the Oval Office less than two weeks before the upcoming election, White House official Winifred Ames (Anne Heche) is told to bring in Conrad Bream (Robert De Niro) to fix the situation and save the president's chances for reelection. This mysterious "fixer" fabricates a conflict with Albania in an effort to detract attention from the sex scandal, bringing in legendary Hollywood producer Stanley Motss (Dustin Hoffman) to "produce" the war. When the CIA foils the initial plot, the creative team turns to a new story line, creating the saga of a U.S. soldier left behind enemy lines whom the president vows to find and return to American soil. Directed by Barry Levinson (DINER, RAIN MAN) and loosely based on Larry Beinhart's novel AMERICAN HERO, this merging of Hollywood and politics is both thought provoking and comical. The inspired casting of Hoffman as the self-absorbed producer and De Niro as the mysterious spin doctor is bolstered by a superb supporting cast that includes Denis Leary and Andrea Martin. [More]
Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Robert De Niro, Anne Heche, Denis Leary
Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Robert De Niro, Anne Heche, Denis Leary, Willie Nelson, Andrea Martin, Kirsten Dunst, William H. Macy, Craig T. Nelson, Suzie Plakson, John Michael Higgins, Woody Harrelson, Michael Belson, Suzanne Cryer, Jason Cottle, David Koechner, Harland Williams, Sean Masterson, Bernard Hocke, Pops Staples
Director: Barry Levinson
Director: Barry Levinson
Producer: Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro, Barry Levinson
Story: Larry Beinhart
Screenwriter: Hilary Henkin, David Mamet
Composer: Mark Knopfler
Reviews for Wag the Dog
A hilarious, acerbic political satire of a kind rarely seen on American screens.
O filme mostra um grupo de pessoas atuando para conseguir alcançar um objetivo sem que nenhuma barreira os impeça. E se não há conflito, qual é a motivação do espectador?
Amusing as it is, Wag The Dog does what it purports to sat irize -- the bark is real but the teeth aren't.
Explores how the deliberate creation of unreality has become one of the most salient aspects of life in our times.
makes the bold and cynical assertion that truth is completely unimportant--it's only what people believe to be true that matters
The pacing is crisp, the dialogue quippy and fast, the tone arch but energetic.
A wicked smart satire on the interlocking worlds of politics and show business, Wag the Dog confirms every awful thought you've ever had about media manipulation and the gullibility of the American public.
Veteran director Barry Levinson does a great job of keeping the energy level high.
Barry Levinson has always had a wicked sense of humor, but never has it been in fuller flower.
Packed full of wickedly amusing details and expertly modulated performances.
Breezily entertaining, cannily crafted, sociopolitical satire that brandishes razor-sharp teeth.
Hoffman, De Niro and Heche all seem to have fun with David Mamet's screenplay, as do supporting players Denis Leary, William H. Macy and Willie Nelson.
Deep down, in the guts of the thing, the film's tone is as vicious as a junkyard dog, and just as mangy. Which is what great political satire is all about.
The picture conveys an irresistible pleasure in fakery for its own sake, and that’s its charm.
Prepare to laugh yourself silly, and let's all pray that the film is less true than it seems to be.
Here's a delightfully screwball satire that's as enjoyable as your favorite ice cream on a hot summer day. Slick and smooth.
Latest News for Wag the Dog
October 12, 2006:
Box Office Guru Preview: "Grudge" Reborn at Box Office
With the pumpkin holiday approaching, Sony unleashes the terror with its frightfest "The Grudge 2" which aims to dominate the marketplace this weekend. More...
October 27, 2005:
Levinson & De Niro to Pair Up for Tinseltown Satire
Variety brings news of an intriguing project that's being described as "Wag the Dog" of the moviemaking world." Robert De Niro will play the lead character in... More...
October 06, 2005:
Robin Williams is Levinson's "Man"
According to Variety, Robin Williams will reunite with filmmaker Barry Levinson on the political comedy "Man of the Year." The actor and director previously worked... More...
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